Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-12-21
CASCADE COUNTY,
ORGANIZED UNDER FAVORABLE
AUSPICES.
The Officers Take the Required Oaths
and Enter upon the Discharge of
Their Duties---Sketches of
the Incumbents.

"Section XIII. This act shall take eff
feet from and after the third Monday OF
December, 1887"
This important part of 'the act to Gre
ate Cascade county, to define its bounda-
riessand provide for its organization was
the cause of much animation IN town
yesterday and today. Commissioners Har-
ris and assessor Gorham were on hand
Saturday evening, and Monday morning
treasurer Dickerman returned from a Wis
it to Saint Paul. All of the officials OF
the new county Except Mr.. WalD, were
accordingly in town.
At midnight when the clock tolled
twelve the bonds were severed be-
tween Cascade and the sister counties
which have hitherto controlled her soil.
Many inquiries were made Monday OF
the new officers relative to the organiza-
ton of the new county. They all report
that the injunction bugbear which had
been set afioat some time ago by enemies
of the new county, had vanished, and they
were all free to enter on their respective
duties as soon as the morning dawned.
Monday morning there was an infor-
NAL meeting at the Office of judge Rolfe
at which all the officers in town were
present. 4 cheerful spirit pervaded the
gathering and steps We're taken to put in
good shape the customary bonds.
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS.
The board Of commissioners consisting
of Messrs. Wegner and Harris, Mr.. Wall
being absent, together with county clerk
Matkin and his deputy, met at the office
of the latter and commenced their first
session at il o'clock, A. M. On motion
of Mr.. Wegner, ]. A. Harris was elected
chairman pro tem The bonds of the sew
eral officers who had qualified were ex-
amined by the board, approved and order
ed filed for record. On motion the board
then adjourned until 80 2. NJ.
In the afternoon the county offices
were crowded with people Offering their
congratulations A bonntiful lunch was
provided and good health was drank in
flowing beakers to the new county.
CHARLES WEGNER,
one of the county commissioners, is so
well known to the readers of the Tribune
that an extended sketch of his career
would be superfiuous. Mr.. Wegner was
born in Germany, and came to the United
States at the tender age of five years.
Early in the seventies he came to Mon
tana. and during nearly the whole of this
time lie has been engaged in the lumber
business. Mr. Wegner is now the gen
eral manager of the Hotter Lumber Com
pany. one of the most important enter
prises of Great Falls, and is one who has
the fullest possible faith in the future
greatness of this city. For more than a
wear past he has been a member OF the
board of commissioners OF Choteau
county, where he gave the best of salts
faction, performing his duties conscien-
tionsly, and without fear Or favor. This
experience will be of good service to
him in assisting in the management OF the
affairs of the new county.
j. A. HARRIS,
the county commissioner. comes from
New Hampshire, the birthplace of Daniel
Webster, Horace Greeley and other great
men. He moved west with the general
tide of immigration, settling first in Wis
cousin, where he resided four years. He
next removed to Iowa, where remained 19
years. He was probate judge for three
years and at times filled as deputy nearly
all the principal county Offices. In 1878
he came to Montana, SO that he is entitled
to rank as an old timer. He engaged in
farming and holds good deal of proper
ty in the Chestnut valley. He has been
Justice of the peace and is well qualified
by experience and ability to manage the
affairs of the young county of Cascade.
J.w. MATKIN,
the new clerk and recorder, is
one of the pioneers of Montana and
has wide acquaintance throughout the
territory. Back in the sixties and early
seventies he was connected with the cele-
brated Diamond r transportation company
and conducted many freight train along
the general route of the Manitoba and
Montana Central long before railroads
were even thought of in this country.
This was position attended both with
hardship and danger, but Mr.. Matkin fear
ed neither. He carries today bullet
received from an Indian ia those days
and the wound has been ever since a
source of pain and i'll health to him. He
has been resident of Great Falls from
the day the first tent was spread here. He
assisted id the first survey of the town and
from that time to this has had unwaver
ing faith and unlimited confidence in its
greatness. He is at present deputy post.
master of Great Falls and besides carries
on successful cigar and tobacco business.
He is fully competent to discharge the du
ties of the Office he has been selected to
fill, and will make all excellent Office for
the new county.
H.P. RoLFE,
probate Judge, is another of the chosen
few who came to Great Falls, before such
a place was known, and took a prominent
part in giving the new town a start. lie
surveyed the toWnsite, as well as most OF